new at this

[linjam]

Im a beginner at this so im just going to tell yall what i have and what i want to achieve and maybe i can get some good advice. I have a 55g tank i have crushed coral and only 6lbs of live rock. i also have a fan to move the water around and thats it. my ph,ammonia, nitrates and nitrites are all where they should be. my tank has set a month. i put 3 starter fish in about 5 days ago and now they are dead. what am i doing wrong?

[erikharrison]

For starters, 3 fish was 3 too many. You need, I say, AT LEAST 1lb of rock per gallon. 6lbs of rock per 55g is just not enough. I don't want to discourage you, but I want to get you started with a good mindset. Fish need clean water. The rock helps with the cycle, and it continues to help the tank flourish. There is bacteria on the rock which facilitates in acting as a biological filter. The more you have, the better, in my sincere opinion. I also am one that is pro for a deep sand bed, either remote or in the display. I have a 75 gallon, which has a 29 gallon tank in the stand. The display tank has around 150-180 lbs of live rock in it. It also has about 120 lbs or more of sand in it, which is about 5 or 6 inches deep. The deep sand bed helps maintain stable ph/alk overnight when the metal halide is off.

What kind of filtration do you have? Do you have a sump, or a canister filter? Is it a biowheel or the like? Do you have a protein skimmer? How are you checking your salinity and what is it? The more you tell us, the easier it is to help.

[RayAllen]

good Post Erik. Tell us in detail about your systems filtration system and more about the actual water chemistry. You say you water is testing "where it should be" if that was the case the fish would not be dead. As Erik stated the more Live Rock the better, Ed at Phenominal Aquatics has some really good cheap rock right now. Also a 55g will take at least 3 weeks to be through a full cycle sometimes longer. A test a just 1 week will be misleading because the tank has yet to go through a full cycle so be patient and test in another week or 2.

[Bill S]

I'm guessing there was never a cycle... Erik hit the nail on the head. 6lbs is a drop in the bucket.

[erikharrison]

To give you an idea... This was this AM before the halide came on.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/erikharrison/DSC_0016Small.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/erikharrison/DSC_0009Small.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x315/erikharrison/DSC_0020Small.jpg

[edawgm]

i put 3 starter fish in about 5 days ago and now they are dead. what am i doing wrong?

Another question is where did you get your fish from? what LFS? You don't really have to answer that question. From my experience with some LFS I got fish from, one LFS though, none of the fish ever survived from that one store except for one fish and that is because I got it the day their shipment came in and it never went into their water. And just because so many are wondering now what LFS it was. I will not say more than They are not a MAAST Sponsor.

Then also what kind of fish did you put in there? Some fish are hardier than others. My first fish, Scopus Tang, went into my tank one week after setting the tank up. I did this because of the advise that I was given at that time. Though some won't agree with this, I was told to do this to help the cycling process, in other words fish poop. It has been a year now since I set my tank up and I still have the Scopus Tang. And Yes if I was setting up a new tank again I would probably do it again.

How did you acclimate the fish to your tank? Just tossing them in will put them into shock from the change in water chemistry and Temp. At a very minimum you need to float the fish to acclimate them to the temp. Then the best method is the drip method. What I do is a little of both. I float them in the tank for 30 minutes, then take half the LFS water out of the bag and fill it back up with my tank water, do this about 3 times waiting 15 minutes after the previous water change. I have had great luck with doing this.

[tony]

where are you located? it might help to swing by and have a look-see at someones setup so you can get a good idea at what you need to tackle to get up and running. there are plenty of us that would be more than welcome for you to do this.

[erikharrison]

where are you located? it might help to swing by and have a look-see at someones setup so you can get a good idea at what you need to tackle to get up and running. there are plenty of us that would be more than welcome for you to do this.


Ha. I thought the same thing. This hobby has a fairly steep learning curve. Once you've gotten into it, there's alot of treading water just to keep afloat! It would definitely help to see other people's tanks! This month's meeting should also be very informative! :)

[bigmoe21]

when is the meeting this month?

[erikharrison]

Free January Speaker Event!
Date: Sunday January 20th

Location:
Bass Pro Shops
17907 IH-10 West
San Antonio, TX 78257

Time: 2pm

Come one, come all to this free event!

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=39386

[linjam]

THE FILTRATION SYSTEM IS A TETRA THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE TANK WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE NO SUMP OR SKIMMER, OVERFLOW OR ANYTHING. I ONLY HAVE A HEATER AND A FAN TO CIRCULATE WATER AND THE FILTER THE TANK CAME WITH. I AGREE I NEED MORE ROCK. MY PH IS AT 8.3 MY NITRATES AND NITRITES ARE AT 0. my ammonia is at .50. IM GOING TO AUSTIN TONIGHT TO BUY A 30G SUMP. I ONLY PUT A YELLOW TAILED GOBIES IN THE TANK. I HAVE 2 1/2 IN OF CRUSHED CORAL MIXED WITH LIVE SAND. GOD WHY DIDNT THEY HAVE A CLASS IN SCHOOL FOR THIS.
I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING

[RayAllen]

GOD WHY DIDNT THEY HAVE A CLASS IN SCHOOL FOR THIS.

That made me laugh. Dont worry about it, youve just started and you found maast we will get you on the right track. Some or Most of us in the hobby believe that a protein skimmer is the most important piece of equipment you can buy. I also recomment getting a good book just to get the basics down. Its great that you are going to have a sump. That will alow you to have many more options for equipment and also increase you water volume. Unless you intend on having the tank drilled you will also need a overflow to get the water from the tank into the sump and a pump to send the water back up. Ask lots of questions and we will answer.

[erikharrison]

GOD WHY DIDNT THEY HAVE A CLASS IN SCHOOL FOR THIS.

Yeah, it is entirely frustrating. You have a long road ahead. You do need that sump, it will help. You also need to get a hang on overflo box and a return pump for it. For a return pump, you could use a mag5 or an ehiem. Do FREQUENT water changes and be DILIGENT about it!!!!! Since you have so little rock, and no skimmer, this is going to be your key to success right now. If you can, buy a floating hydrometer, rather than a swing arm. They are extrememly accurate and they stay that way. Plus they cost right about the same as a swing arm, but they are truly worth their weight in gold. Later on you can buy a refractometer if you'd like, but since you will be changing water so much, you should buy a floater asap. Are you using ro/di or ATX Tap? If you are using tap, make sure to dechlorinate it! Are the fans that you are referring to powerheads? If so what brand is it? KEEP BUYING ROCK, and make sure not to add any fish. If you want some inhabitants in there buy a few (3) or so hermit crabs. I know it's hard not to buy fish and want to see stuff swimming around, but if you don't take it slow, stuff will die. It's good to see that you are going to buy a sump, that is definitely a step in the right direction. A good skimmer should be next... :)

[linjam]

Im going to San Antonio tonight to buy some more live rock. Im going to make a promise right now no fish until i have accomplished these things 1.) at least 80lbs of live rock [60 for the tank and 20 for the sump] 2.) i have a running sump with live rock, algae, overflow drilled, and a return pump, and light for growing algae, and a protein skimmer. 3.) once i have accomplished steps 1 and 2 i will let the tank sit for 1-2 months to allow it to cycle. 4.) THEN DO I BUY FISH?

[copperband]

you buy fish after the ammonia nitrites and nitrates all read zero trust me its better to wait i added stuff way to early and lost almost all of it i had to learn the hardway. i have a skimmer rated for a 65 gallon i got at petsmart for like 25 bucks or so thats what i use
but i am always looking to find a better way also its great that your getting a sump

[tony]

im not far from you give me a call if you want to swing by and look at my setup i should be home all night

210.842.7395

here is where i live: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=8102+Rosespur+Park,+Schertz,+TX+78154&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.043149,82.265625&ie=UTF8&ll=29.57913,-98.325877&spn=0.026499,0.040169&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1

[erikharrison]

Go by Tony's house if you get the chance. I haven't seen his setup as of yet, but I know he has something going right for him :bigsmile:

[Gregsf66]

Hey James, when you come over tonight to pick up that sump I can show you my setup and We can talk all that you want to talk about. I have overflow boxes and return pumps from mag 5's to mag' 18's. I also have 2 protien skimmers available. I can help you, You remind me of myself about 2 years ago. Best part about it, Im still learning..... Every Day....

Greg
512-947-6657

[cowboy572]

I am full understand what you are going through. I have been in this hobby for about a year now and gone through my "learning curves". If there is a book out there I recommend it's "Saltwater fish for Dummies". A fellow MAAST member recommended this book for me when I purchased his tank and it help me understand the basics of the hobby. Another thing you can do is as questions, that why enjoy the MAAST group. You will get loads of good advice. Read up do some "homework" and the hobby will come to you. I am still learning, I am in the process of setting up on my own a 100 gal tank.

[erikharrison]

Oh yeah! Greg was the one with the little gravity fed bins! I forgot who that was!!!! Your tank looks very nice! :)

[Bill S]

Of course, you are also welcome to come by here and look at my setups - you'll see what's good and what's bad!